Fastener-applying implement



22, 1938.. J. F. CAVANAGH FASTENER-APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed May 24, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 22, 1938. J. F. cAvANAGH FASTENER-APPLYING IMFLEMENT Filed May 24, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 22, 1938. J. F. CAVANAGH 2,1375642 FAsTENER-APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed May 24, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 jig/ NOV. 22, 1938. 1 CAVANAGH 21,137,642

FASTENER-APPLYING IMPLEMENT Filed May 24, 1937 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Nov. 22, 1938 APATENT OFFICE FASTENER-APPLYING` IMPLEMENT John F. Cavanagh, Providence, R. I., assigner to Boston Wire Stitcher Company, Warwick, It. I., a corporation oi' Maine Application May 24, 1937, Serial No. 144,406

18 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fastener-applying implements and more particularly to portable implements for driving staples or other types of fasteners in attaching tags or labels to packing cases, drawings, advertising matter or the like to boards, tacking matting,

carpets or the like to -floors and walls, and for other similar purposes.

One object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type indicated which may be held and manipulated in one hand to apply the fasteners to the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type indicated having a spring adapted to be manually compressed while the driver is held inoperative and releasable to actuate the driver with considerable force.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type indicated having a latch automatically operative to hold the driver inoperative and manually-operative means for compressing the spring and releasing the latch in sequential order to actuate the driver.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type indicated which operates eiliciently to effectively apply the fasteners, and one in which the means for compressing the spring has a maximum mechanical advantage to facilitate manual actuation.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the invention, by way of example only, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a fastenerapplying implement embodying the novel features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the implement showing the casing as partly broken away to illustrate the guideway for slidably mounting the driveractuating plunger;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the implement shown partly in section to illustrate the relationship of the magazine and fastener-applying means;

Fig. 4 is a side. elevational view of the implement showing it with one of the casing sections removed to illustrate the relationship of the parts when the staple-driver is raised;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the actuating arm for compressing the operating spring and releasing the driver;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the operating spring compressed and the bunter on the actuating arm about to rock the latch to release the staple-driver;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 6 showing the relationship of the parts at the end of a staple-driving operation;

. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 6 showing the same relationship of the parts:

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on line 95 of Fig. 6 showing the construction of the magam zine and casing sections;

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view on line Ill-l0 of Fig. 6 showing the follower for compressing the operating spring and its link connection to the manually-operative means;

Fig. l1 is a transverse sectional View on line iI--il of Fig. 1 showing one of the pivots for mounting the actuating handle on the casing;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view through the plunger and casing showing a modiiied form of the implement provided with a yielding abutment engageable by the plunger at the end of its driving stroke;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the abutment engaged by the plunger and yielding to reduce the shock; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on line llilt oi Fig. 12 showing the means for retaining the abutment in position in the casing.

'Ihe present invention relates generally to a portable hand tool having fastener-applying mechanism and operating means therefor enclosed in a hollow casing. The fastener-applying mechanism includes a reciprocable drive movable across theV end of a magazine to drive fasteners fed thereto. The driver is actuated by the expansive force of a compression spring and is held in raised inoperative position by a pivoted latch while the spring is being compressed. Manually operative means on the casing are arranged to 40 compress the spring and include a bunter operative` during its last increment of movement to actuate the latch to release the driver.

Referring to the drawings, the implement as herein illustrated comprises a hollow casing iii, preferably made in two separate sections il and l2 of identical form but of opposite hand, see Figs. l and 5; the separate parts being stamped from sheet-metal or die-cast of a suitable light material. The separate parts il and l2 have weblike side walls with inwardly-directed marginal flanges I3 arranged with their edges abutting at the rear. top and throughout a substsriiai pmt of the front to position the walls in spaced relation, see Fig. 6. At the lower end of the front of the casing I5 the side walls are cut away to provide an opening I4, shown in Fig. 6, and a' smaller opening I5, shown in Fig. 8, is formed in the ilanges I3 at the top oi' the casing for a purpose as will later appear. As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 6, the web-like sides of the casing sections II and I2 are shaped at their forward upper portions to provide a rectangular guideway I3 with recessed grooves I1 at the opposite sides. Alining openings I8 located substantially centrally of the sections II and I2 provide for the insertion of the lingers therethrough to adapt the implement to be held in one hand. Preferably, an insert I9 of soft rubber or other suitable material is mounted in the openings I 8 to provide a cushion for the lingers and, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9, the insert has grooves 23 which engage the edges of the casing sections I I and I2 around the openings I3.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 9, the sections II and I2 of the casing I0 are mounted in a channelshaped member 25 having a flat base and opposite side flanges 26 which embrace the outer sides of the casing. The bottom wall of the member 25 extends from the rear of the casing I0 to a point adjacent its forward end to close the bottom of the casing, see Fig. 6. As illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the sections IIand I2 of the casing Ill are held in assembled relationship in the channelshaped member 25 by studs 21 extending through the side flanges 23 and the side walls of the casing. The studs 21 are herein illustrated in the form of bolts with nuts at one end, but they may take other forms and be secured in place by any suitable means such as by Welding or riveting. A similar stud 28 extends through the sections I I and i 2 of the casing I9 above and at the rear of the openings I8. As illustratedin the present drawings, a cap or sheath 30, preferably of heavy construction, is mounted on the forward part oi the casing IU to increase the weight and inertia oi the implement. The rearward wall of the cap 33 is split longitudinally and provided with ears 29 clamped together by a bolt 3i to secure the cap in place.

A magazine for the fasteners is mounted in the casing it, being herein illustrated as adapted to hold a supply of U-shap'ed staples s, but it is to be understood that other forms of fasteners may be used in the implement. The magazine 32 comprises a channel-shaped member, preferably constructed from sheet-metal with a bottom wall 33, upstanding sides 34 and flanges 36 folded inwardly therefrom to extend partly across the open top of the member, see Fig. 9. The magazine 32 is adapted to rest on the base of the mem.- ber 25 and its sides 34 are pierced with alining holes 36 through which the retaining studs 21 extend to fasten it in place. At its forward end, see Fig. 8, the magazine 32 has stanchions 31 projecting upwardly from the flanges 35 and extending forwardly beyond the ends of the bottom and side walls 33 and 34. Each of the stanchions 31 has a vertically-extending slot 38, shown in Fig. 6, for a purpose to be later explained. Rails 39 are rigidly fixed to the bottom wall 33 of the magazine 32 with their upper edges positioned beneath the flanges 35 to provide a support or core for the staples s which are adapted to be straddled thereacross. The rails 39 are held in spaced relation by shouldered studs 40, see Figs. 6 and 8, and attached to the magazine 32 by lugs di bent inwardly from their lower edges and fastened to the bottom wall 33 by any suitable means such as rivets 42. As most clearly shown in Fig. 7, the forward ends 39' of the rails 39 extend beyond the ends of the side walls 34 and bottom wall 33 of the magazine 32 into the opening I.4 formed in the casing section I to underlie the forwardly projecting stanchions 31, while the rearward ends of the rails terminate short of the rearward end of the magazine. The lower edges of the forwardly-extending ends of the rails 39 are offset or bent outwardly from the main plane to provide flanges 48 which have raised lugs 41 formed thereon, see Figs. 1 and 4. A trough-shaped shield 43, see Figs. 6 and 8, is mounted between the stanchions 31 above the forward end of the magazine 32 by means of pins 44 and 45 extending through the stanchions and the sides of the shield. The stanchions 31 are also provided with alined holes through which the Y retaining bolt 21 extends to rigidly hold the forward end oi the magazine in position in the casing I0.

A door or gate 50 is pivotally mounted on the stanchions 31 for cooperation with the end of the rails 39 to form a throat 5I therebetween, see Figs. 4 and 6. The gate 50 is of U-shape in cross-section having a front wall 52 and opposite side walls 53 which project rearwardly to straddle the stanchions 31. The gate 50 is pivoted to the stanchions 31 by means oi a pin 54 which projects through slots 39 therein with its ends connected to the sides 53 of the gate. At their lower ends the side walls 53 are cut away to form notches 55 for cooperation with the latching lugs 41 on the forwardly-projecting ends of the rails 39. 'I'he pin 54 mounts the gate 50 on the stanchions 31 to adapt it to be rocked from closed position, shown in full lines in Fig. 1, to open position indicated by dash lines and the relatively long slots 33 permit the gate to be moved vertically on the stanchion to engage its notches55 with and release them from the laterally-projecting lugs 41. The gate 50 is yieldingly held in closed position by a bowed spring 56 having loops at either end, one of which embraces the pivot-pin 54 for the gate and the other the xed pin 45 extending between the stanchions 31.

The staples s are advanced along the magazine 32 to feed them successively into the throat 5I by means of a staple-pusher 60 of inverted U- shape which rides on the rails 39 at the rear of the staples. The staple-pusher 60 is urged forwardly by an elastic element such as a helical spring 6i or the like having one end attached to a lug 62 on the pusher. The spring 6I extends forwardly around the forward spacer stud 49 and then rearwardly of the magazine 32 with its opposite end attached to a lug 63 struck up from the bottom 33 of the magazine. A cross-pin 64 seated in slots 65 in the rearward ends of the rails 39 has its ends projecting laterally across the spaces between the sides of the rails and the sides plates 34, and these laterally-projecting ends of the pin are adapted to be engaged by the rearward edges ofthe sides of the pusher 60 to limit its rearward movement. The pin 64 is resiliently held in the slot 65 by a spring 66 stretched between the pin and the rearward spacer stud 99. The ends of the studs 43 terminate at the outer faces of the rails 39 so as not to obstruct the pusher during its sliding movement in the magazine, see Fig. 8.

A staple-driver 1i!- is mounted to reciprocate in the throat I at the forward end of the magazine 32 to drive staples advanced along the rails 39. The staple-driver has a transverse slot 1I adjacent its upper end for connection with its op- CFI erating means and its lower end is guided by the ends of the rails 39 and the front and side walls 52 and 53 of the gate 50. A staple-retainer or pawl 12 of usual construction is pivotally mounted on the pin 44 and has a forward abutment I4 which is engaged by the rearward face of the driver 1U when the gate 50 is closed to hold the pawl 12 in inoperative position. A spring 'l5 is coiled aboutl the pin 4d with one end engaging the pivot-pin 54 and its other end engaging the abutment 14, thereby tending to rock the pawl 12 into engagement with the staples when the gate 50 is opened and the driver 10 released.

The operating means constituting the subjectmatter of the present invention include a plunger connected to actuate the driver 10 and operated by the expansive force of a cornpression spring BI. As most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the plunger 80 is of hollow rectangular form` slidably mounted in the guideway I6 in the casing Ill. The plunger 80 is further guided by a cross-pin extending between the sides of the sections il and I2 of the casing lu. A plate tl rigidly secured to the bottom of the plunger tu in any suitable manner, as by welding, riveting or the like, has a forwardly-extending tongue 83 which projects through the slot li in the upper end of the driver l0. rThe spring tl is mounted in the hollow plunger til with its lower end seated on its bottom and its upper end en gaged by a follower such as a cross-pin tl. ls herein illustrated, the cross-pin lll engages a plate tt overlying the upper end ol the spring and has reduced ends projecting outwardly through slots in the opposite sides oli the plunger llt and into the grooves il in the guiden way it. The slots lill entend downward iront a point adjacent the upper end or the plunger to permit the :tolloweiwpin lll to be moved longttuclinally thereof to compress the spring ill. Preferably the pin lll has bosses ilu at its endo which are slidable in the slots, see Fig. lil. downward strolre oi the plunger is limited by the engagement oi? the bottom plate with lined abutments lill projecting inwardly from the Walls of the casing ill. .as illustrated in Figi and 8, the abutnients ill are formed by rneinhers having right-angular legs tu and lith with the legs tile of each member extending inwardly through suitable apertures in the sides ot" the casing and the other legs liti) overlying the of the casing and nxedly secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by soldering, welding or the like, see Fig. 3.

il preferred construction of abutment is illus-- tratecl in Figs. l2 to lil which is adapted to yield slightly when struck by the plunger to reduce the shock. The abutment is comprised of a rubber blockA di supported between upper and lower' plates it of identical construction. The plates tt have their corners notched to :forro tongues of reduced width which project outwardly through suitable apertures in. 'the opposite side walls of the opposed sections il and il of the casing ill. rl'he tongues til are so proportioned as to provide a close t with the sides of the apertures in the casingsections ll and il and the shoulders at the rear of the tongues cooperate with the inside faces of the walls of the casing sections to hold the plates against displacement.

The plunger lill is releasably .held in its raised position by a latch or trigger Slt pivotally mount ed on a cross-pin d3 extending between the sides of the sections il and l2 of the casing it. As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8, the latch 92 is in the form of a, bell-crank lever having laterally-extending hubs B4 through which the pivot-pin 93 extends to hold the latch centered in the casing. One o! the arms oi th.U bel1-crank leverl or latch 92 bears against the rearward side of the plunger 80 and is formed with a notch at its end for engaging the bottom and rearward edges of the plate 82. The pivoted latch B2 is rocked forwardly under the action of a spring 96 to engage the notch with the plunger 8U. The spring 96 is coiled about one of the hubs 94 of the latch 92 and has one end hooked around the latch with its opposite end bearing against the abutment 89. 'I'he opposite arm 91 of the latch 92 extends rearwardly and is adapted to be engaged by the operating means as later described to rock the latch and thereby release the plunger 80.

The operating means for compressing the spring 8| and actuating the latch 92 include a rockable arm |00 extending throughout substantially the entire length oi the casing l0. The arm Illu is pivotally mounted on the stud 28 at its rearward end and is hiiurcatecl at its forward end to forro. laterally-spaced ears ll, see Fig. 5, which straddle the plunger lill adjacent its lower end. As herein illustrated the arm i is comprised of two parts rigidly con nected throughout a considerable portion of their length, as by riveting, welding or the like, and

having their ends oppositely stepped to torni the spaced ears lill forwardly oi its forked sides lull.

The arin lilil is connected to the follower-pin tl by opposite linlrs lllil positioned in the grooves il at the opposite sides oi the guideway lil. The linlrs lllil are pivot/cd to the ears lill on the ann lilll by means of pins illll with their opposite ends pivotally connected to the ends oi the cross-pin lll to iorrn an articulated structure which transl lates the roclring movement oi the arm into a vertical straight-line motion. The arm lllll is roclred about the plvoi;stud to raise the plungw er lill under the tension oit `alrpin spring lllll having its looped end hearing against the bottom oi the arrn with its legs stracldling the latter and coiled about the stud and then extended to bear against 'the ilanges ill the re f oi' the casing ill.

The arrn illll is ctuated ainsi; the tension ol' the spring llltl `ry inai'nlailyMo lill pivoted at its lard end to at lill and entera" too oi" the casing. contorni to the con:` laas a orwardlyside oit the ca r'mnt. its illustre iorwardiy-projectina` ears t rifle" ol the casing lll and. circular bearings till with ouwordly to the edge ot' the en is pivotally mounted. on studs anni@ secured to the sides oi casing sections il and lli and projecting or .rdly therefrom into the circular bearings ill-l. see liilg. ll. Removable bushings l ill mounted on the studs ill llt *ightlv within the circular lfioarings lill. being held in place by spring-rings "l sprung into annular grooves lill in the studs adjacent their outer ends. The lever lill is mounted on the studs liti by sliding it :forwardly relatively oi the casing lll to cause the studs to enter the circular bearings lit through the slots lill. The bushm ings llt are then placed on the studs lili and fastened in place with the rings ill to retain the lever lill in position on the studs.

The lever llt and arm litt thus constitute upwr d more llt oirtcnding The lever lill longitudinally .1;

has

il l. riveted or oth-ll compound levers, being connected by means of a link |20 extending through the opening I5 in the flanges |3 of the casing I0. The link |20 is positioned intermediate the ends of the lever and arm |00 so that the movement transmitted through the lever and arm is decreased and the power applied to the follower-pin 01 to com.- press the spring 0| is increased to impart a mechanical advantage to the operating means. As shown in Figs. and 6, the link i 20 is formed of a single piece of sheet-metal folded to channel shape to provide spaced sides which are extended and apertured to provide ears |2| and |22 at its opposite, ends. The upper end of the link is pivoted to the lever ||0 by a stud or pin |23 extending through the sides of the lever and the ears |2i, while the ears |22 at the lower end of the link lie between the spaced rails |02 of the arm i 00 and are pivoted thereto by a pin |24 extending through the rails and ears. A bunter in the form of a collar |25 is mounted on the pinA |24 between the ears |22 and overlies the arm 97 of the latch 92.' The device having now been described in detail its method of operation will be next explained.

The implement is prepared for operation by loading the magazine with a supply of staples s. For this purpose the gate 50 is lifted against the action of the bowed spring 59, to release its notches 55 from engagement with the latching lugs 4l, and then rocked on the pivot-pin 54 to the position indicated by dash lines in Fig. 1. As the gate 50 is moved away from the end oi' the magazine the staple-retainer 'l2 is released and rocked by the spring 'l5 to engage and hold any staples which may be contained in the magazine to prevent them from being ejected therefrom. The staples s are preferably united in the form of a refill stick which is pushed into the magazine 32 to overlie the spaced rails 89 forming the staple-core. The staples will thus slide the p usher |50 rearwardly on the core against the tension of the spring 6|. The rearward movement of the staple-pusher 60 is limited by the engagement of the rearward edges of its sides with the laterally-projecting ends of the pin 6I which provides a yielding abutment due to the spring 56. The yielding resistance caused by the engagement of the pusher 90 with the pin 50 thus gives an indication as to when the magazine is fully loaded. 'I'hat is to say, as a stick of staples is pushed into the magazine the pusher 90 is slid rearwardly until it contacts the pin 9S. Then, the operator will be appraised of the fact that the magazine isl nearly lled, but the spring 60 will yield to permit a few more staples to be entered into the magazine. As the staples are pushed into the magazine the staple-retainer 'l2 is rocked to permit them to slide thereunder, but when the staples are released it immediately` engages therewith to prevent them from being ejected from the magazine by the force of the pusher 60.

After a supply oi staples have been inserted into the magazine 32 the gate 50 is rocked back to its closed position in cooperative relation to the end of the spaced rails 39, being latched by the engagement of its notches 55 with the lugs 4l. As the gate 50 is moved to closed position its forward wall 52 engages the abutment i4 on the staple-retainer 12 to rock the latter about the pivot-pin 44 to inoperative position. I'he staple-pusher 60 then acts to resiliently urge the staples forwardly in the magazine to deliver them successively beneath the driver 10. 'I'he sides 53 of the gate 50 engage the offset laterallyprojecting flanges 49 at the bottom of the staple-core to aline the gate with its sides in spaced relation to the rails 39 whereby to provide a clearance for the legs of the staples. The gate 50 is yieldingly held in iatched engagement with the lugs 41 by the bowed spring 59.Y

While held in one hand the implement is placed on the work to position its forward end at the point where it is desired to apply a staple s. The plunger 80 is normally raised to its uppermost position, illustrated in Fig. 1, by the spring |06 which rocks the arm |00 connected to the plunger by the links |04 and follower-pin 8l. The plunger 80 is held in this raised position by the engagement of the notched end 95 of the latch 92 with the edge of the plate 92. To apply a fastener the manually-operative lever ||0 is depressed by the pressure of the fingers of the hand in which the implement is held to cause it to be rocked downwardly about the pivot-studs I5. The rocking movement of the lever ||0 is transmitted through the link |20 to rock the arm |00 downwardly about its pivot 28. This motion of the arm |00 is transmitted through the links |04 to the follower-pin 01 which causes the latter to slide the plate 89 downwardly within the plunger 80 to compress the spring 9| as illustrated in Fig. 6. During the nal increment of movement of the lever ||0 about its pivot 20 the bunter |25 on the lever |00 engages the arm 91 of the trigger or latch 92 and rocks the latter about its pivot 93 against the tension of the spring 96. The latch 92 is thus released from the plunger 90, see Figs. 6 and '7, and the expansive force of the compressed spring 0|, acting between the plate 99 as a stationary abutment and the bottom of the plunger, causes the plunger and driver 'i0 connected thereto to descend with considerable force through a driving stroke. The end of the driver 10 impinges against the top of the foremost staple s, separates it from the other staples in the magazine and drives it through the throat 5| into the work, in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 7. The driving stroke of the plunger 30 is limited by the engagement of the plate 92 with the abutments 89 to prevent the end of the driver 10 from moving beyond the throat 5| and mutilating or otherwise damaging the work. When a resilient abutment of the type illustrated in Figs. 12 to 14 is used the rubber block 9| is compressed between the plates 99, see Fig. 13, to yieldingly arrest the movement of the plunger at the end of its stroke to reduce the shock and resultant wear and tear on the parts. During the driving stroke the plunger 80 slides liongz the side of the latch S2 as illustrated in After the completion of a staple-driving operation the manually-operative lever ||0 is released and the spring |00, acting between the casing i0 and the arm |00, causes the latter to be rocked to its inoperative position illustrated in Fig. 1. As the arm |00 is rocked upwardly the followerpin 0l engages the upper end of the slots 94 and slides the plunger 80 upwardly iri` the guideway i6. At the end of the upward movement of the plunger 80 the latch-member 92 is rocked by the spring 96 toautomatically engage its notched end 95 with the plate 02 to hold the plunger in its raised position. The rocking movement of the arm |00 about its pivot 29 is also transmitted through the link to the lever ||0 to rock the latter about the pivot-studs ||5. The up- -ward movement of the arrn |00 and other parts connected thereto is limited by the engagement of the lever H with the cap 30 at the rear of the guideway I6. The parts are thus automatically returned to their initial position with the plunger 80 held by the latch 92. The implement is then ready for another staple-driving operation identical with that previously described, another staple s having been advanced by the pusher 60 into the throat 5I.

VIt will be observed from the foregoing that the invention provides a simple and compact portable hand tool which is adapted to drive fasteners with considerable force by means of a loaded or compressed spring. It will be noted that the implement provides for storing energy during a comparatively long stroke of the operating handle or lever H0 with little resistance Aand then releases the energy instantaneously to drive the staple with a quick action. It will also be observed that the staple-driver is held in raised position du-ring the compression of the spring to permit the staples to be advanced thereunder and the driver is released during the last increment of movement of the manually-operative means which provides for efficient operation to effectively drive the fasteners with little or no appreciable wear on the parts.

While the invention is herein shown as embodied in a preferred form of construction it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For instance, mechanical springs may be substituted for the rubber block in the resilient abutment engageable by the plunger or the abutment may be in the form of a laminated leaf-spring, and other structural changes may be made in the various elements as will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Therefore, Without limiting myself in this respect, l claim;

l. n a device of the type indicated, fastenerapplying means including a reciprocable driver, a spring for actuating the driver, means opera- 'tively connected to the driver for holding the latter in inoperative position, means independent of the last-named means and movable relatively of the driver to compress the spring, and a pivoted lever for actuating the movable means, said pivoted lever actuating the holding means after the spring is compressed whereby to release the driver.

In a device of the type indicated, fastenerapplying means including a reciprocable driver, a spring connected to actuate the driver, means operatively connected to the driver for holding the latter in raised position, means independent of the last-named means and movable relatively of the driver for compressing the spring and actuating `the holding means to release the driver after the spring is compressed, and a pivoted lever for actuating the movable means with a mechanical advantage, said spring actuating the driver to apply the fasteners to the work.

.3, In a device of the type indicated, fastenerapplying means including a reciprocable driver, a spring connected to actuate the driver, latchmeans operatively connected to the driver for holding the latter inoperative, and manuallyoperable means independent of the latch-means comprising compound levers movable relatively of the driver and arranged to compress the spring and actuate the latch-means at the end of said movement to release the driver, said spring actuating the driver with a quick action to apply the fasteners to the work.

4. In a device of the type indicated, fastenerapplying means including a reciprocable driver, means connected to the driver and operative to raise the latter, a pivoted latch automatically operative to engage the second-named means to hold the driver in raised position, a spring connected to actuate the driver, and a pivoted lever movable relatively of the driver while the latter is held by the latch to compress the spring and thereafter rock the latch whereby to release the driver.

5. In a device of the type indicated, fastenerapplying means including a reciprocable driver, a hollow plunger connected to the driver, a coiled spring in the plunger, a latch for holding the plunger in raised position, and a manually-operable lever arranged to compress the spring and thereafter actuate the latch to release the plunger, said spring actuating the plunger and driver to apply the fasteners to the work.

6. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of fastener-applying mechanism including a reciprocable driver, and operating means for the driver comprising a hollow plunger connected thereto, a spring in the plunger, a latch for holding the plunger in raised position, an arm pivoted at one end with its opposite end movable with respect to the plunger and arranged to compress the spring, and means on the arm for actuating the latch to release the plunger after the spring has been compressed.

'7. In a device of the type indicated, fastener-- applying mechanism including a reciprocable driver, and operating means for the driver comprising a hollow plunger connected thereto, a spring in the hollow plunger', a latch. for holding the plunger, an arm pivcted at one end with its free end movable relatively o the plunger, means at the free end of the arm for compressing the spring as the arm is rocliedaloout its pivot, means on the arm for actuating the latch to release the plunger after the spring is compressed, and a manually-operated lever connected to actuate the arm.

3. In a fastener-applying device, a magasine for fasteners, a driver movable across the end. of the magazine, latch-means operatively con-- nected to the driver for holding the latter raised to permit fasteners to be advanced along the magazine to position them beneath the driver, compression spring for actuating the driver, and manually-operative means independent of the latch-means and comprising compound levers movable relatively of the driver for successively compressing the spring and actuating the latch to release the driver.

9.v In a fastener-applying implement, a magazine for holding a supply of fasteners, a pivoted gate cooperating with the forward end of the magazine to form a throat through which the fasteners are driven as they are advanced along the magazine, said gate being movable away from the end of the magazine to supply fasteners there to, a reciprocable driver in said throat for applying the fasteners to the worlr, a latch for holding the driver in raised position, a spring for actuating the driver, and means movable relatively of the driver for successively compressing the spring while the driver is held by the latch and thereafter actuating the latch to release the driver.

10. In a device of the type indicated, a hollow casing, a magazine in the casing for holding a supply of fasteners, a driver movable across the end of the magazine to apply fasteners advanced therealong, a spring in the casing connected to operate the driver, a latch for holding the driver in raised position, a pivoted arm for compressing the spring and actuating the latch after the spring has been compressed. and a lever on the casing connected to actuate the pivoted arm.

11. In a device of the type indicated, a hollow casing having opposed sections formed to provide a rectangular guideway, said casing sections having openings therein forming a handgrip, a magazine in /the casing for holding a supply of fasteners, a driver movable across the end of the magazine to apply fasteners fed thereto :from the magazine, a hollow plunger slidable in the rectangular guideway oi.' the casing and connected to operate the driver, asprlng in the plunger, a latch for holding the plunger in raised position, and manually-operative means including a lever for compressing the spring, said lever plvoted toy the casing and overlying the handgrip and said manually-operative means actuating the latch after the spring is compressed to release the plunger.

12. In a device of the type indicated, a hollow casing, a-magazine in the casing for holding a supply of fasteners, a driver movable across the end oi' the magazine to apply the fasteners fed from the magazine, a plunger connected to operate the driver, a spring in the plunger, alatch for engaging and holding the plunger ln'raised position, compound lever mechanism for compressing the spring and actuating the latch to release the plunger, and a stop in the casing' below the plunger for limiting the stroke of the driver.

13. In a device of the type indicated, the combination of fastener-applying mechanism including a reciprocable driver, and means connected to operate the driver comprising a hollow plunger having slots in its opposite sides, a spring in the plunger, a follower overlying the spring and pro- Jecting through the slots 'in the sides of the plunger, means for raising the plunger, a latch for holding the plunger in raised position, and manually-operative means connected to the follower and movable relatively of the plunger to compress the spring, said manually-operative means actuating the latch to release the plunger after the spring is compressed.

14. In a device of the type indicated, a hollow casing, a magazine in the casing for holding a supply of fasteners, a driver movable across the end oi the magazine to apply the fasteners ed from the magazine, a hollow plunger connected tothe driver and having slots at its opposite sides. a spring in the plunger, a pin overlying the spring and projecting through the slots in the plunger, a bifurcated arm pivoted at one end with its opposite end straddling lthe plunger, links connecting the ends of the cross-pin with the bifurcations of the arm, a spring for rocking the arm to raise the plunger, a latch for engaging the plunger to hold itin raised position, a manually-operated lever overlying the casing, and a link connecting the manually-operated lever to actuate the arm.

15. In a device of the type indicated, fastenerapplying means including a driver., a plunger connected to actuate the driver, a spring for actuating the'plunger, latching means i'or holding the plunger and driver inoperative, manually-operable means comprising compound levers for compressing the spring while the plunger is held inoperative, and means operated'by said manuallyoperable means to release the latch after the spring has been compressed.

16. In a device of the type indicated, fastenerapplying means including a driver, a plunger connected to operate the driver, a spring for actuating the plunger, latching means for holding the plunger and driver inoperative, means for compressing the spring while the plunger and driver are held inoperative, and a lever for operating said last-named means and releasing the latching means after lthe spring has been compressed.

17. In a device of the type indicated. fastenerapplying means including a reciprocable plunger, a spring for actuating said plunger, means for compressing the spring and releasing the plunger to cause the spring to actuate the plunger through a driving stroke, and a yielding abutment engageable by said plunger at the end of its driving stroke comprising a block of resilient material having metal facings at its opposite sides.

18. In a device of the type indicated, a hollow casing having apertures in its opposite sides, fastener-applying means in said casing including a reciprocable plunger, a spring for actuating the plunger,'means for compressing the spring and releasing the plunger to cause the spring to actuate the plunger through a driving stroke, and a resilient abutment engaged by the plunger at the end of its stroke comprising spaced plates having tongues extending outwardly through the apertures in the casing and a rubber block be- Y tween the plates.

JOHN F. CAVANAGH".

DESCLAIMER 2,137,642.-John F. Uacancgh, Providence,

Patent datedl November 22, 1938 by the assignee, Boston Wire Sttcher enters this disclaimer to ctal Gazette December 26,

y Herelly O'ompany; claims 5, 9, l5, and

the inventor, consenting. 16 in said specification.

R. I. Fss'rnNnn-APPLYING IMPLnMnN'r. Disclaimer filed November 28, 1939,

DISCLAIMER 2,137,642.JOm F. Ccwanagh, Providence, R. I. FAsTENER-APPLYING IMPLEMENT. Patent dated November 22, 1938. Disclaimer filed November 28, 1939, by the assignee, Boston Wire Stitcher Company; the inventor, consenting. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 5, 9, 15, and 16 in seid specification.

[O cial Gazette December 26, 1939.] 

